So what's the deal with easy listening ?

[BuyBuy]

I would guess that most people on this forum, just like me, hate all the easy listening branch of commercial music, which includes Clayderman or Yanni for keyboards, Bocceli for voice, Rieu for violin and so forth.

Now most people outside of our classical world really like them. And they don't get why we don't, because to them Bocceli  or Rieu sound classical (so you play classical, they do too, so what's wrong with them ?).

I always have a hard time trying to articulate and logically explain why I hate easy listening performers (after all, it sounds nice, and I can't say that Bocceli's voice is horrible). Do you guys think it's just elitism and fanciness from us classical artists that makes us reject them ? Do you think we're just closed minded snobs, unable to appreciate lighter music ? Or do we have actually strong reasons to despise easy listening as some type of inferior music ? And how do we explain to someone else the difference between, let's say, classical music and what Rieu plays ? Any comment...

[allchopin]

we don't

makes us reject them ?

we're just closed minded snobs

we have actually strong reasons to despise easy listening

Bad case of mouse-in-your-pocket 
I don't hate Yanni because he does not play Chopin or Bocelli because he is highly commercialized.  New age music (not really easy listening), like any other music genre, has excellent works of great value which can be appreciated by any type of person - anyone with a semi-open mind anyhow.  I find this music to be a good contrast to classical and as light background music.  I think we should take some certain amount of pride in our acknowledgement of other music styles even with our obvious concentration on piano... and you may find yourself with a foot in your mouth loving it 10 years from now .

[Daniel_piano]

I would guess that most people on this forum, just like me, hate all the easy listening branch of commercial music, which includes Clayderman or Yanni for keyboards, Bocceli for voice, Rieu for violin and so forth.

You guessed wrong
I love a lot of new age music and I don't consider it easy listening
You may be interested to know that this "holier than thou" approach of classical/accademic music is a product of the 20 century
In fact, during baroque, classicism, romanticism, impressionism popular music was taken in high esteem and all accademic music was influenced by folk dances and songs
Accedemic music disn't consider itself better or artistic while the rest was not
Unfortunately the manierism, snobbery and presumption of the 20 century and the avant-garde movement resulted in a lot of misnomers and alienation from the music of the world outside of the ivory tower of "serious" music
Classical/contemporary/accademic music is commercial as well and in fact much of the choices of School of Vienna were based on money despite what they said
I'm against the capitalistic economics of the Western world but I don't think music that is recorded on CD, sold on music stores and aired on radio has anything to do with capitalism and commercialism
Yanni do the music he loves to do for the peoplewho love to listen it, and despite loving Debussy, Sinding, Beethoven, Hummel, Scarlatti and other I also love Wakeman, Yanni, Ciani and many other music
What they do is more honest than what many contemporary music does
They just have something in their mind tha they want to share with their audience something that has a meaning for them and for the people who listen and therefore completely respctable

The term easy listening is also a byproduct of the presumptuos pomposity of accademies and avant-garde quarters, in fact back to the era of romanticism, classicism and even impressionism it wasn't required that music was "difficoult" or "complex" it wasn't required that people was trained to hear dissonances or that they had a diploma in counterpoint
Like art was made to make something complex accesible to anyone, classical music was also created from complex theories to be easy listening for the audience
There a lot of Stravinksy quotes on the dishonesty of contemporary music and the fallacy of teh "we're art and you don't" "we're complex and you're easy" mentality
Mozart, Liszt, Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, Scarlatti they were easy listeing and proud to be so as their goal was to use complicated musical harmonies and counterpoint that make music that anyone, even those without musical adecation, could appreciate 

And yes, when we say that other music is easy listening, non-music, bad, non serious we're just being eliticist, snob, manieristic, narrow-minded
But the sad thing is that this mentality never existed in Mozart, Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Bartok but is a product of the snobbery of the avant-garde era and it's a well known fact that accademy eliticist was born in the 1900 and is now fortunately fading

If the great composers of the past had this same mentality they would have never composed the masterpieces we know as they were not composed as "more serious" "more artistic" "less inferior" to contrast with the bad pop music out there, it was created without presumption and higly influenced by the pop music of that era

You can't explain logically why you despise anything that is outside of the accademic elicitism because you've been brainwashed by teh avant-garde mentality of this era
if you were born in the 1800 you would have said that pop music is bad or that classical/accademic music is more artistic than other music (the term artistic music was just invented in the 1910/1920, before there were not all these intellectual manieristic intention to sound more serious than other style of music)

You not be aware also that by 1960 a lot of classical/accedemic/contemporary composers left the manieristic and narrow-minded world of 12-tone-row to let their music be influenced by rock, ryhtm,'blues, country, techno, ambient, new age, broadway and soundtracks
So I think that those with this old mentality that accedemic music is more serious, more noble, less easy listening are still entrapped in the 1940 mentality that it's now part of a sad past
It's time to move on, time to forget about what may be sensed during the World Wars and realize we're in teh 21 century, a century where the world need to be united instead of separated, where we shuld all respect other tastes in stead of create our private elites, and a world that need the justice of comprehension and not the unjustice of snobbery

There's shouldn't be an "inside classical world" and an "outside classical world" and this strict separation originated again on the dead avant-garde era where the audience was alienated by experimentalism for the sake of it and where composers said that their pieces were a success only if at least more than half the audience walked out in droves to express their displeasure and disgust

Among the reasons why contemporary music is almost dead (but there are hope for a post-romantic less manieristic future in the contemporary music) and why people dislike it, this mentality that classical is intelligent and pop is stupid is surely one of the most important, the way contemporary music alienated itself from the social context using the escuse that people is stupid while they're all geniuses with their screams, piano in fire (literally), random notes, mathematical series and their hideous presumption and lack of honesty

The paradoss is that the more contemporary music tried to free themselved from strict rules the more they became entrapped in strict rules
The more they tried to be innovative by breaking with the past and with the pop music, the more they became unoriginal by not being free in what they could composer
The more they tried to be against bougious society, fascism mentality and presumption of the nobles, the more they become bogious, fascist, narrow-minded and presumptous themselves

I also understand majority of people would not agree with you
Most of people here like rap, pop, videogames music, sountracks and like me new age

There's no such a thing as easy listening and a lot of famous composers of the past would not agree with you
Music is beauty and interesting when you're interested in listening to it and you get emotions and are moved from it and who composed it, how rich or poor he/she is, how commercial and famous is music it, how good the composer is in using the harmony and counterpoint rule has nothing to do with the quality of the music

Among the "easy listening" (your words) authors are there are a lot
pianists with diploma, strumentists with diploma, composers with diploma and a lot of people that could never be really considered "outside of the classical world" and maybe more knowledge than you in classical music story and development

In fact a lot of soundtrack composer are "serious" musician/composer that was dissafistied with the avant-garde regime

Daniel

[julie391]

i dont hate any music, i do however - hate the ignorant association between these polar opposite types of music.

[Daniel_piano]

At this point it would be cool if all the anti-snobbery members of the forum would write a list of all the non-accademical non-classical music they like and listen
My list woud scare to death any snob

Daniel

[julie391]

yes, topics have been made about it

my list would too 

[Daniel_piano]

yes, topics have been made about it

my list would too 

I never want to lose the chance to scare snobs to death so here some of my fav in non particular order:

Vincent Guaraldi
Miles Davis
Anita O'day
Louis Armstrong
Michel Petrucciani
Procul Harum
Joahn Baez
Victor Jara
Inti Illimani
Mike Oldfield
Pink Floid
Tangerine Dreams
Brian Eno
Alan Parson
Deep Purple
Dire Straits
Fletwood Mac
Joan Armatrading
Simon and Gurfunkel
Linda Rondstadt
Juice Newton
Bonnie Tyler
Vangelis
Jean Michael Jarr
Medwyn Goodal
Henry Seroka
Deuter
Mike Rowland
Cusco
David Arkenstone
Tim Janis
Philip Glass
Ennio Morricone
Henry Mancini
John Willaims
Alan Silvestri
James Horner
Danny Elman
Oliver Wallace
R.E.M.
Mark Knopfler
Sting
Otis Redding
Eric Clapton
Stevie Wonder
Cindy Louper
Limahl
Supremes
Rod Stewart
Diane Ross
R.A.F. by Picotto
F.P.I. Project
Dj Cerla
Dj Cirillo
Robert Miles
Datura
Rex Antony
Roland Brant
Reel to Reel
Digital Boy
Hypnotic Dream
Da blitz
Woodpecker from the Space
Pink Elephant of Parade (Dumbo)
Little April Shower (Bambi)
Once Upon a Time in New York City (Oliver&Company)
Part of your World (Little Marmaid)
A wish is Dream your Heart Make (Cinderella)
Little Toot (Make Mine Music)
Feed the Bird (Mary Poppins)
Oh What a Merry Christmas Day (Mickey's Christmas Carol)
Little Shop of the Horrors
The Sound of Music
Hair
West Side Story
A star is Born
The Wizard of Oz
Flying Dreams (Secret of Nihm)
If we hold on together (Land Before Time)
Silent Night
Rudolph the RedNose Reinder
Santa Clause is Coming to Town
Carol Of the Bells
Twelve days of Christmas
Greenslevess
White Christmas
O Holy Night
Harold the Angels Singing
Little Town of Betlehem
Pulcinella (Rondo Veneziano)
Rondo Veneziano (Rondo Veneziano)
Scaramuccie (Rondo Veneziano)
Rialto (Rondo Veneziano)
Connels
Donna Lewis
Zucchero
Whitney Houston
Mariah Carey
Aerosmith
Celine Dion
Bryan Adams
Billy Gilman
Guns N' Roses
Avril Lavigne
Silk
Kelly Family
Hevia
....... and I could go on for hours

Daniel

[cysoto]

Celine Dion and Guns-and-Roses on the same list.     Wow talk about having an eclectic taste in music!!   

I guess I'd put myself in this same category.  I grew up with my Dad listening to Black Sabbath and Iron Butterfly and my Mom listening to Barbara Streisand and Barry Manilow.   So when it comes to music I like it all; except for non-pop Country Music.  I'm still working on that one. 

[Stolzing]

I always have a hard time trying to articulate and logically explain why I hate easy listening performers (after all, it sounds nice, and I can't say that Bocceli's voice is horrible). Do you guys think it's just elitism and fanciness from us classical artists that makes us reject them ?

From what I've read, since I've never really listened to him, Bocelli has a very small voice.  He needs a microphone to be heard, which is sacrilegious for an opera singer.  Same with Charlotte Church.

[Daniel_piano]

I always have a hard time trying to articulate and logically explain why I hate easy listening performers (after all, it sounds nice, and I can't say that Bocceli's voice is horrible). Do you guys think it's just elitism and fanciness from us classical artists that makes us reject them ?

From what I've read, since I've never really listened to him, Bocelli has a very small voice.  He needs a microphone to be heard, which is sacrilegious for an opera singer.  Same with Charlotte Church.

Bocelli is not an opera singer
He never sang in an Opera
Bocelli is not trying to be an Opera singer and never tried to be or never tried to say he is an Opera singer
He does music in his own style using certain qualities of impostated choral voice an certain qualities of pop music, like the piece "Vivo per Lei"
His audience knows what to aspect from him and they like it for what it is
The word sacrilegious is indeed very snob; if you do what you do with passion and because you like doing it and there's an audience that need what you're creating because they love it too.. there's nothing sacrilegious and never will

Daniel

[Stolzing]

He has sung in operas and released full albums of opera arias:

https://umusic.ca/andreabocelli/index.php

January 2001 saw Bocelli's first appearance on stage at Verona's Teatro Filarmonico in the title role of Mascagni's L'amico Fritz, a role particularly well-suited to Bocelli's vocal talents, since it demands a very special kind of tenore di grazia with an extensive range and unusually polished timbre.

In summer 2002, he made his debut as Lieutenant Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at Torre del Lago.

Andrea has since released his second complete opera recording, "Tosca" with Zubin Mehta, in May 2003. Pagliacci, Cavelleria Rusticana conducted by Steven Mercurio are set for future release, as well as Werther, which he performed in January 2004 at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, and subsequently recorded with Yves Abel.

In July 2004, Andrea will make his debut performance as Tosca's Cavaradossi at Torre del Lago.

I'm just trying to address why that one particular person is not respected much in the classical crowd, since that was a question in the thread.  I've read a lot of negative things said about him from opera fans reguarding his opera recordings/performances.  And the consensus is his voice is too light.  I'm not sure what they think about his non-operatic works.  So maybe it doesnt address the overall question of the thread.

[Daniel_piano]

He has sung in operas and released full albums of opera arias:

https://umusic.ca/andreabocelli/index.php

January 2001 saw Bocelli's first appearance on stage at Verona's Teatro Filarmonico in the title role of Mascagni's L'amico Fritz, a role particularly well-suited to Bocelli's vocal talents, since it demands a very special kind of tenore di grazia with an extensive range and unusually polished timbre.

In summer 2002, he made his debut as Lieutenant Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at Torre del Lago.

Andrea has since released his second complete opera recording, "Tosca" with Zubin Mehta, in May 2003. Pagliacci, Cavelleria Rusticana conducted by Steven Mercurio are set for future release, as well as Werther, which he performed in January 2004 at the Teatro Comunale in Bologna, and subsequently recorded with Yves Abel.

In July 2004, Andrea will make his debut performance as Tosca's Cavaradossi at Torre del Lago.

I'm just trying to address why that one particular person is not respected much in the classical crowd, since that was a question in the thread.  I've read a lot of negative things said about him from opera fans reguarding his opera recordings/performances.  And the consensus is his voice is too light.  I'm not sure what they think about his non-operatic works.  So maybe it doesnt address the overall question of the thread.

I knew he has recorded opera arias, but he has never starred in an Opera as a singer as far as I know
His non-operatic works should be judged for what they are
One may like them or may not like them but there nothing to objectively bad in his musid
Let me also say that I still believe that the negative things the "classical crowd" may  say toward pop music is just out of snobbery as they have all been brainwashed by the "holier than thou" mentality of modernism and avant-garde
Sad thing, classical music was not snob and presunptuos when it was conemporary

Daniel

[brewtality]

you like avril, Daniel? this is one singer that i don't understand the appeal of. I saw this show on E where there was footage of her singing as a child; even back then she couldn't hold a tune.

[Daniel_piano]

you like avril, Daniel? this is one singer that i don't understand the appeal of. I saw this show on E where there was footage of her singing as a child; even back then she couldn't hold a tune.

You know, what I like of her is also the fact that she doesn't sing perfectly with her voice not perfectly set
Even being out of tune and having a weak tone can sometimes create interesting stylistical effects

Daniel

[julie391]

you like avril, Daniel? this is one singer that i don't understand the appeal of. I saw this show on E where there was footage of her singing as a child; even back then she couldn't hold a tune.

she is an OK singer, but her songs are pretty cool i reckon

[julie391]

yes, topics have been made about it

my list would too 

I never want to lose the chance to scare snobs to death so here some of my fav in non particular order:

Vincent Guaraldi
Miles Davis
Anita O'day
Louis Armstrong
Michel Petrucciani
Procul Harum
Joahn Baez
Victor Jara
Inti Illimani
Mike Oldfield
Pink Floid
Tangerine Dreams
Brian Eno
Alan Parson
Deep Purple
Dire Straits
Fletwood Mac
Joan Armatrading
Simon and Gurfunkel
Linda Rondstadt
Juice Newton
Bonnie Tyler
Vangelis
Jean Michael Jarr
Medwyn Goodal
Henry Seroka
Deuter
Mike Rowland
Cusco
David Arkenstone
Tim Janis
Philip Glass
Ennio Morricone
Henry Mancini
John Willaims
Alan Silvestri
James Horner
Danny Elman
Oliver Wallace
R.E.M.
Mark Knopfler
Sting
Otis Redding
Eric Clapton
Stevie Wonder
Cindy Louper
Limahl
Supremes
Rod Stewart
Diane Ross
R.A.F. by Picotto
F.P.I. Project
Dj Cerla
Dj Cirillo
Robert Miles
Datura
Rex Antony
Roland Brant
Reel to Reel
Digital Boy
Hypnotic Dream
Da blitz
Woodpecker from the Space
Pink Elephant of Parade (Dumbo)
Little April Shower (Bambi)
Once Upon a Time in New York City (Oliver&Company)
Part of your World (Little Marmaid)
A wish is Dream your Heart Make (Cinderella)
Little Toot (Make Mine Music)
Feed the Bird (Mary Poppins)
Oh What a Merry Christmas Day (Mickey's Christmas Carol)
Little Shop of the Horrors
The Sound of Music
Hair
West Side Story
A star is Born
The Wizard of Oz
Flying Dreams (Secret of Nihm)
If we hold on together (Land Before Time)
Silent Night
Rudolph the RedNose Reinder
Santa Clause is Coming to Town
Carol Of the Bells
Twelve days of Christmas
Greenslevess
White Christmas
O Holy Night
Harold the Angels Singing
Little Town of Betlehem
Pulcinella (Rondo Veneziano)
Rondo Veneziano (Rondo Veneziano)
Scaramuccie (Rondo Veneziano)
Rialto (Rondo Veneziano)
Connels
Donna Lewis
Zucchero
Whitney Houston
Mariah Carey
Aerosmith
Celine Dion
Bryan Adams
Billy Gilman
Guns N' Roses
Avril Lavigne
Silk
Kelly Family
Hevia
....... and I could go on for hours

Daniel

nice!

i actually enjoy some death/black metal such as nile and cradle of filth, and even easy listening like enya

and lots of stuff in between, like you